There was a time when I had no real control over myself. Anxiety dominated my mind, and I constantly found myself ruminating and overthinking every situation, feeling trapped in a cycle of worry. Overthinking gave me the illusion of control, but it was rooted in fear. Instead of addressing those fears, I would retreat into my mind, trying to analyze and manage my way out of discomfort. But no matter how much I tried, peace never followed.

What I’ve since realized is that true self-mastery isn’t about controlling thoughts or circumstances. It’s about standing firm in stillness, allowing uncomfortable emotions to rise and pass, without running from them or seeking external distractions. When I stopped overthinking and began to face my fears directly, I began to cultivate real self-control.

The practice of sitting with my emotions—no matter how unpleasant—taught me a deeper truth: joy is the fruit of self-mastery. By confronting my inner turmoil instead of avoiding it, I slowly gained mastery over myself, and with that mastery came a natural, unshakable happiness. Not the fleeting joy that comes from external validation or success, but a steady, internal joy that arises from knowing I can withstand anything that comes my way.

It wasn’t easy to sit in silence, to stop reacting, and to resist the urge to control. But in the stillness, I discovered that everything I needed was already within me. Once I stopped chasing after solutions and allowed the bad feelings to pass, I realized that joy is what remains when you’ve let go of fear and learned to trust yourself.

Self-mastery isn’t about being perfect or never feeling negative emotions—it’s about knowing that you can sit with whatever comes and still be okay. This inner peace, this quiet confidence, is what brings true happiness. Joy doesn’t come from controlling life, but from mastering yourself within it.